Commemoration held for Canadian bomber crew killed near Bideford

Commemorators gathered on Saturday, March 8, to mark the 80th anniversary of the crash of a Canadian Wellington Bomber P-Peter from 407 Squadron RCAF. 

The aircraft, which had taken off from RAF Chivenor, suffered engine failure and crashed in a field near Round Hill on March 7, 1945, killing three of the four crew members.

The event saw locals paying tribute to the fallen airmen. 

A moment of silence was observed during the commemoration in remembrance of those who lost their lives.

Mike Harper, who organised the commemoration with his partner, Gaylena Humphries, said: “Members of the Bideford Youth Pipe Band led a parade along the Tarka Trail from the old Bideford Railway Station to the memorial before the commemoration that included some history of the crash by local military historian Graham Moore from the RAF Chivenor & North Devon Aviation History Group.”

He explained: “We regularly walk past the memorial on the Tarka Trail, and five years ago we decided that something should be done to mark the 75th anniversary of the crash. With help from the then-Mayor of Bideford, renowned local historian Peter Christie, we organised a small commemoration.

“Five years on, we thought that we would do it again. We had support from the Bideford Air Cadets, the Royal Marines Association, the British Legion, and especially Graham Moore from the RAF Chivenor and North Devon Aviation History Group,” he added.

Mike and Gaylena also help run the Bideford Youth Pipe Band, which saw members take part in the parade.

ABOVE: Mike and Gaylena. Credit: Graham Hobbs

The Wellington Bomber P-Peter was on a training exercise when it encountered difficulties over Bideford and crashed into Round Hill in East-the-Water. 

Three crew members, Flight Lieutenant E.V. Duckworth, Pilot Officer J.K. Andrews, and Pilot Officer C.J. Butler, were killed. 

The sole survivor, Flying Officer A. Izenberg, was pulled from the wreckage by local men Alfred Paddon and Walter Johns.

Izenberg later married Josephine Jewell from Barnstaple.

The 80th anniversary commemoration, attended by Bideford Mayor Cllr Rachel Clarke, took place at the memorial beside the Tarka Trail. 

Standards on parade were from the Royal British Legion Barnstaple Branch and the Royal Marines Association North Devon Branch.